Functional Interaction of Anions and Cations with the Reconstituted Adenine Nucleotide Carrier from Mitochondria

Abstract

The adenine nucleotide carrier from the inner mitochondrial, membrane is influenced by various factors pertaining to the surrounding hydrophobic and hydrophilic phases as well as by transmembrane parameters. The composition of the surrounding water phases with respect to monovalent and polyvalent anions and cations1’2 and the composition of the surrounding lipid phase with respect to phospholipid headgroups3,4, cholesterol content5 and fluidity of the membrane represent the main factors modulating the transport activities of the ADP/ATP-carrier protein. The transmembrane parameters, i.e. substrate gradients and membrane potential, are the most important parameters which regulate the transport function in vivo6,7.